FCC Proposes Nation Network

The FCC has issued a ninth notice of proposed rules about public safety allocations in the 700 MHz band, this time proposing a national public safety network that sounds similar to plans in the Cyren Call project and talked about by other companies. “We propose a centralized and national approach to maximize public safety access to interoperable, broadband spectrum in the 700 MHz band,” the FCC wrote, “and, at the same time, foster and promote the development and deployment of advanced broadband applications, related radio technologies, and a modern, IP-based system architecture.” The plan would allocate 12 MHz from the current public safety broadband allocation, assign the spectrum nationwide to a single national public safety broadband licensee, then allow the licensee to use the spectrum to provide public safety entities with broadband service for a fee. The FCC proposal would also allow the shared use of commercial mobile radio service infrastructure to provide the new national network. Download (pdf) the FCC’s 26-page order here, and a compilation of comments about the order by the FCC commissioners here.